I have been on BC since I was 17 and I am 24 now. I have been on a generic form of Loestrin Fe 1/20 for years however I just recently (in my 2nd week) started the name brand pack due to confusion at the mail order place. Anyway I don't know if these symptoms I am having are relate from switching generic to name brand or could possibly be a pregnany. The last time I had sex was June 13th and always use a condom. I have had a period since then although my last two periods have been lighter they are red (not brown) discharge and a little more than what I would consider "spotting." Another thing to note is that I was on antibiotics for an ear infection and ended the cycle three weeks before having sex June 13th (used a condom). There were also times in the past couple months where I had sex (w/condom) on my last day of inactive pills...I didn't know it you can still get pregant from this or what the chances are.

For a few days now I have been experiencing abdominal tenderness (not really pain)....just tightness and when I push on it (belly button area) it is hard undernieth. It also seems to feel a little poofier than normal. No weight gain. I also have lower back pain (general, not sharp and not on one side over the other). I have always had tension headaches and anxiety however this doesn't usually last beyond a 1/2 day. For the past few days, in addition to my other symptoms, I have had more anxiety and have been tightening up (jaw/upper back) causing a prolonged headache that never seems to go away although it is a mild one then normally experienced. I also have had a loss in appetite although I hear my stomach gurggle, bubble (if that makes sense). I have had slight gas, nothing extreme or too out of the ordinary. I feel like I could have to pass a bowel movement but when I try either not the amount expected comes out or I don't go at all.

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I don't think switching from the generic to the name brand should cause you any trouble, although anything is possible, or make you anymore susceptible to pregnancy. If I read your story right, you used a condom whenever you had sex anyway, so that would make your risk minuscule.

Still, something is causing you to feel this way, whether it is the drug or something else going on you should probably go to your physician with a list of these symptoms and see if they can make sense out of it for you and help you feel better. Some of what you describe can be side effects of Loestrin Fe.

Just as a side note, Health Central has a site devoted to anxiety, if you haven't gone there, it may be worth it to you.

UPDATE: I honestly think it is either anxiety or constipation. I have had panic attacks in the past and pretty reguarly clench my jaw and my upper back muscles due to anxiety and stress. I recently read on other sites that you can clench your stomach muscles as well due to anxiety. I am moving from graduate school of living on my own for 6 years to back home with my parents and sister, not to mention new friends, internship, etc.
I also have felt like a bowel movement since monday but have only gone a little on tuesday and a little on wednesday but nothing to the extent of what i felt it should be. I've increased my fiber and water intake and have been eating foods that would normally result in a bowel movement with nothing yet. The headaches are gone and my stomach more so feels like pressure and bloating with hardness when I push on it (which could/not be from clenching). I work out almost everyday. My back still hurts a little bit but not as much as my original post. Today I got my regular eating habits back.
Yes, you were correct in that I have used birth control and condoms EVERYTIME i had sex. Even though I was on antibiotics at one point which can counteract the birth control I still used condoms and none broke to which I am aware of.
Thanks for your help/advice
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I have been where you are, partly. The anxiety and tension for your headaches and back pain and you certainly have huge changes underway in your life which may be responsible for your bowel problems, the constipation. When I went into the army I won't tell you how long it was before things began acting as they should but it did take time!

You do an excellent job of keeping track of your symptoms and attention to your health, I wonder what you studied. I hope after you are back home, and are able to adjust to the old ways of living, and get settled at your internship, that all returns to better than normal for you, if not sooner.

Many of the acid reflux patients I work with don't simply deal with the basic heartburn symptoms. One symptom that is frequently mentioned is painful belly bloat. Not only is this bloat painful, but when you can't fit into your jeans it's downright annoying. Most of the reasons for belly bloat can be changed with some simple tweaks. Check out some of the tips below. Slow down while eating We are a fast-paced, fast-food society. If you are eating on the run, you are likely eating too fast. Quickly wolfing down some food may be good for productivity but not for your gut. Slow down, chew your food thoroughly and don't gulp, which causes you to swallow air, and you will improve your digestion. Reduce carbonated beverages Small amounts of carbonated beverages used sparingly can help you belch and relieve pressure from excess gas, but if you are downing more soda than water it could be having the opposite effect. Reduce the amount of carbona...

Many would argue that back pain is inevitable and for some it becomes a sudden reality. Bending over to pick up a piece of paper, moving furniture, or reaching for something in the car's back seat; one of these scenarios may sound familiar to you. At home or at work, you need to know what to do when a sudden attack of back pain occurs. Fortunately, most back pain will get better naturally. But in order to improve your chances of recovery and to save yourself a trip to your doctor's office, you need to learn some first aid for back pain.
Those of you familiar with life-saving first aid remember the ABC's (Airway, Breathing, and Circulation). Let's apply the ABC's to your back; "A" for arrest the offending activity, "B" for balance the pressure, "C" for control the inflammation. With the ABC's for sudden back pain, you can quickly recover from a sudden back pain attack.
A rrest
Let's go back to the scenarios: bending, lifting, and twisting (the BLT's). All of these activiti...

Spondylolisthesis (spaun-di-lo-lie-thee-sis) is a mouthful and is a common cause of low back pain (although it can exist anywhere in the spine, the lumbar spine is the most common area affected). The spinal column is a series of building blocks called vertebral bodies stacked on top of one another. Sometimes these blocks do not line up perfectly. This slight separation in the spinal column is called a spondylolisthesis .
"Doc says I have a spondy-something-or-other. Don't ask me what it is; all I know is that it hurts". Steve tries to explain his low back condition to his friend. But, he finds that he cannot explain what he does not understand. Steve has had back pain for a number of years. Every year the pain gets worse and has now become constant. His doctor sent him for x-rays recently. The x-rays showed a spondylolisthesis with disc degeneration at L5/S1. Steve could not understand his doctor's explanation of the condition. So, now he has pain and has confusion.

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